Five people have been detained in police operations across three provinces in Turkey on accusations of engaging in espionage for Iran, the state-run TRT Haber reported on Friday.
The suspects were detained in simultaneous operations in İstanbul, Antalya and Mersin following a joint investigation by the National Intelligence Organization and the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors accuse the suspects of gathering intelligence on military bases and critical locations in Turkey and abroad and relaying the information to the Iranian intelligence service, the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
No information has been disclosed regarding the suspects’ nationalities.
Rising tensions between Turkey and Iran
The detentions come at a time of tense relations between Iran and Turkey due to Ankara’s warning to Tehran earlier this against undermining stability in Syria following the collapse of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December.
The tensions arose following comments by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in a February interview with Al Jazeera in which he warned that Iran risked plunging the Middle East into “disorder.”
Iran was a key backer of Assad before he was ousted from power on December 8 following an offensive by an Islamist-led rebel alliance with ties to Turkey.
Turkey’s counter-espionage efforts
In recent years Turkey has conducted multiple operations targeting individuals accused of spying for foreign intelligence services, including Israel’s Mossad. Dozens of suspects have been arrested and prosecuted as part of these efforts.